Grain drier



0d 27, 1953 B. L. ToMLlNsoN GRAIN- DRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet .l

Filed Sept. 17, 1952 Oct. 27, 1953 a. L. ToMLlNsoN GRAIN DRIER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1952 Patented Oct. 27, 1953 GRAIN DRIERBen L. Tomlinson,

Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to Arid-Aire Manufacturing Company,Minneapolis, Minn., a

corporation of Minnesota Application September 17, 1952, Serial No.310,014

12 Claims.

This invention relates to grain dryers. More particularly, it relates tograin dryers of the type using an endless conveyor continuously passinggrain through a drying chamber, the grain being Vcompletely dried Whilepassing through the chamber and thereafter discharged for storing.

This invention "constitutes improvements over the grain dryers shown inpatent application, S. N. 244,972 entitled Grain Dryer filed by DonaldE. Carlson and myself as joint inventors on September 4, 195]., and alsoto the grain dryer disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,490,176 issuedDecember 6, 1949, to William E. Tomlinson and ma Although the graindryers shown in this patent and this application function in a highlysatisfactory manner, I have found that there is a strong demand amongthe larger grain elevator operators for a grain dryer having increasedcapacity. One such dryer, as is disclosed in this prior patent andapplication, will handle the normal operating load of most elevatorinstallations, but for the larger ones such dryers do not havesuiiicient capacity individually and hence two or more of the same arerequired. Since these dryers represent a substantial outlay forconstruction and materials, any means by which the capacity of such adryer can be increased is of vast importance to the grain industry. Myinvention provides a solution for this problem and need.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improvedgrain dryer of increased capacity.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved grain dryer ofthe type utilizing an endless conveyor upon which the grain is dried,this dryer functioning in an improved manner and substantiallyincreasing the amount of grain which may be dried therein.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved grain dryer whereinthe grain is carried throughout the length of the unit through a heatingchamber and then reversed in direction and carried again throughout thelength of the unit while being cooled whereby the capacity of the `unitis increased and improved drying is attained.

Another object is to provide a grain drying unit which will have agreater capacity without increasing the overall size or" the dryingunit.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fullyappear from the follow- 'ing description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference Acharacters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one 'embodiment of myinvention with portions thereof broken away to show the interiorconstruction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along line 2-2of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken approximately along line 3-3of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of my device takenfrom the side along which the cooling conveyor passes;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary .plan view of a side portion of one of theconveyors;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical and longitudinal sectional view takenapproximately along line 1-1 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical setcional View taken through theagitator.

One embodiment of my invention, as shown in Figs. 1-8, may include anelongated housing indicated generally as I0 and having insulated sidewalls II and I2, a front end I3, a rear end I4 and a. top I5, a portionI6 of which is open to permit `air to pass readily therethrough. Theentire housing is mounted upon a pair of spaced longitudinally extendingskids Il and I8. As best shown in Fig. 1, the housing IB has a grainintake I9 and a grain discharge outlet 2D.

Extending longitudinally of the housing I0 throughout its interior is apartition 2l which 'divides the interior of the housing ID into a hotchamber 22 and a cooling chamber 23. The hot chamber 22 has an airintake 24 and the opening I6 serves as an air discharge outlet therefor.

The cooling chamber 23 has an air intake 25 and the lower portionthereof is open as at 26 to prokvide an air discharge outlet for thesame.

' Immediately beneath the grain intake I9 is a hopper 2l which has adivider plate 28 therewithin to distribute the grain across the entireWidth of the hopper as it enters the same. One side ofthe hopper isprovided with a vertically movable gate 29 and this gate has a controlmechansm 30 for moving the gate vertically to regulate the flow of graindownwardly therethrough.

As the grain passes through the gate 29 itis deposited upon the dryingconveyor indicatedi generally as 3 I, this drying conveyor being of theendless and porous type. It has a receiving end '32 and a discharge end33 and extends through.-

out the length of the housing I0. As can be readily seen in Fig. 1, thisconveyor 3| is mounted for revolution about a pair of longitudinallyspaced horizontal axes one of which is at each end of the housing. Atthe receiving end 32 of the conveyor the conveyor passes around a shaft34 which has a sprocket 35 at each of its ends, these sprockets havingrelatively wide teeth 35 and being separated by a relatively narrowrecess as can best be seen by referring to Fig. 7 which discloses theshaft 31 at the discharge end 33 of the conveyor bearing a sprocket 38formed similarly to the sprocket 35.

The conveyor 3i isformed ofv a plurality of parallel transverselyextending panels 39 which have a plurality of apertures formedtherethrough throughout their length. These apertures fit are evenlyspaced and are of approximately .0525 inch in diameter. The side edgesof these panels 39, as best shown in Fig. 6, are reversed uponthemselves, the leading edge 4l being reversed upon itself and then bentdownwardly as at d2 to provide a downwardly extending flange 43. Thetrailing edge is bent downwardly as at 44 to form a depending flange 45and then reversed upon itself to extend upwardly and then forwardlyagain as best shown in Fig. 6. rhese edges are reversed upon themselvesto provide strength. it should be noted that the leading edge Iii ofreach panel extends slightly "f" above the trailing edge of the precedingpanel but in close proximity thereto so as to prevent any appreciablepassage of grain therebetween. As these panels 39 pass around thehorizontal axes at each end of the conveyor, the space bef tween thetrailing edge of the preceding panel and the forwardmost portion of itsfollowing panel widens and permits any grain which may have workedtherebetween to freely dropffro-m the conveyor. Thus the conveyor has aunique selfcleaning feature due to its construction.

Mounted on each end of each of the panels 33 is a side guard 45 which iscomprised of a horizontal plate member 41 and an upstanding flangemember 48. Each of these ange members 48 is formed slightly diagonallywith respect to the horizontal portion 41 so that the forward end 49thereof extends inwardly slightly farther than the rearward end 5i?thereof. This causes the forward end 49 to extend inside of the rearwardL end of the preceding ange as can best be seen in Fig. 6. In thismanner, the side guards overlap and prevent the escape of any grain overthe sides of the conveyor. The inner link strapi 5i h as an inwardlyextending horizontal ange 52 which extends inwardly beneath thehorizontal portion i1 of each side guard and is connected thereto and tothe end of the panel 49 by bolts 53. Each of these link straps 5I has aroller pin 54 extending outwardly therefrom and carrying a spacingroller 55 thereupon. Mountedl on this roller pin 5e outside of theroller 55 is an outer link strap 56 which is held in place by a cotterpin 51. As can best be seen in Fig. 5, the positioning of these outerlink straps 56 is altered so that alternate link straps are positionedinwardly of the others. The length of these inner and outer link straps5I and 56 is equal to the spacing between the recesses or grooves in thesprockets so that the rollers 55 will fit thereinto and serve to drivethe conveyor when the sprockets turn.

The drying conveyor 5! empties at the rear end of the unit intoa trough53. This trough 58 has a transversely extending auger 59 mounted in thebottom portions thereof. As can best be seen in Fig. i, the auger 59 hasopposite nights .at the opposite end portions thereof which carry thegrain to a chute 5G which has a divider plate 6I mounted centrallythereof '50, 311.56 the grain to spread out evenly upon the uppersurface of the receiving end of the cool-ing conveyor indicatedgenerally as 62. A leveling gate 63, as best shown in Fig. '7, ispivoted at 64 to perm-it the same to ride upwardly and downwardly overthe grain and to level the grain into an even stratum upon the uppersurface of the cooling conveyor 62.

The cooling conveyor 62' is constructed similarly to the drying conveyor3l with the exception that it is substantially narrower. It is operatedat approximately three times the speed of the drying conveyor 3| andhence can easily carry the entire load of grain which is discharged fromthe drying conveyor 3 i. The panels and linkage of the cooling conveyor52 is constructed identically with the panels and linkage of the dryingconveyor so that no further description of these parts is deemednecessary. The cooling conveyor 64 has a receiving end 65 and adischarge end 65 the latter of which discharges the grain outwardlythrough a discharge outlet 61 upon a conveyor or other equipment (notshown) for conveying the dried grain to a storage location.

The driving power for the conveyors is provided by a motor 68 which hasa variable speed mechanism known as a Reeves drive 69, a gear reducer 10and a chain 1I which extends downwardly to drive the drive shaft 12which is the shaft which carries the discharge end of the coolingconveyor B2 and causes the latter to revolve thereabout. Thecountershaft 13 is provided with a chain 14 which passes around a pairof idlers 15 and drives the drying conveyor 3l by passing around asprocket 16 mounted on one end of the shaft 31. Thus it can be readilyseen that the motor 68 not only drives the cooling conveyor 62, but italso drives the drying conveyor 3 I.

Extending longitudinally of the unit and mounted at the bottom of thegenerally V-shaped lower walls of the heating chamber, is a cleanoutauger 15. This clean-out auger is driven by a bevel gear 11 which iscarried on the outer end of a countershaft 18 which in turn is connectedby a universal joint to the other end of the countershaft 13. Thisclean-out auger 15 carries the dirt and dust which normally collects inthe bottom of the heating chamber to the rear end I4 of the unit anddischarges it outwardly therefrom, thereby substantially eliminating anre hazard.

A motor 19 having a double pulley ismounted within the housing at oneside thereof and is connected by a belt which drives an agitatorindicated generally as 8 l. As best shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4, thisagitator extends transversely of the unit and is positioned immediatelyadjacent to and above the drying conveyor 3i. A second belt 82 extendsfrom the motor 19 to a pulley 83 which is mounted on one end of theshaft carrying the auger 59. Thus the motor 1S serves to drive the auger59 and the agitator 8|.

The agitator 8l is comprised of a shaft 84 upon which a plurality ofdiscs 85 is mounted, at least one of these discs being secured at eachend of the agitator to the shaft. Extending between these discs adjacentthe circumferential portions thereof and longitudinally of the agitatorare a plurality of strips of angled metal 85. Secured to these strips ofangled metal 86 and extending 85 so that the outer edge thereof brushesacross the upper surface of the drying conveyor 3| as the agitator 8|rotates. 'I'his agitator serves to draw the more highly dried portionsof the grain, which will be immediately adjacent to the upper surface ofthe conveyor, to the upper surface of the grain stratum and brings themore damper portions of the grain stratum downwardly in close proximityto the upper surface of the conveyor so as to facilitate the drying ofthe stratum.

A blast-type oil burner 88, which can best be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, isprovided to supply the heat for the drying operation. As seen in Fig. 1,this burner is provided with an oil pump 89, a pressure blower 90, and amotor 9| to drive the two latter elements. An oil pressure regulator 92and a solenoid valve 93 along with a filler 94, is provided to completethe combustion unit. A foot switch 95 is provided to start the unit anda fire eye 96 serves to maintain the unit in operation after it has oncebeen started. A high limit control 91 prevents the temperature withinthe drying chamber from reaching a level where there would besubstantial danger of fire. A similar control (not shown) is provided tostop the entire unit in the event the temperature of the air as itleaves the grain exceeds 160 F.. a limit set by fire safety authorities.

Cool air is drawn inwardly through the cool air inlet 24 and is mixedwith the hot combustion gases discharged by the burner 88 and are drawnrearwardly by a huge fan 98 as can best be seen in Fig. 1. The air isdriven rearwardly by the huge fan 98 and upwardly through the dryingconveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon throughout the entire lengthof the drying conveyor. This fan 98 is provided with a motor 99 which isconnected to the fan shaft by a belt |0| and a pulley |02. The belt |0|and the fan shaft |00 are encased in a metal tube |03 which communicateswith the exterior so that as the fan 98 rotates, cool air is drawnthrough this tube to prevent the fan shaft |00 from burning out itsbearings.

Above the cooling conveyor 62 and mounted inside the air intake 25 ofthe cooling chamber, is positioned a fan |04 which is driven by a motor|05. This fan draws the cool air inwardly and drives it downwardlythrough the grain stratum upon the upper surface of the cooling conveyor82 to cool it sufliciently so that the grain may be stored immediatelyupon its discharge from the unit. A panel I 06 extends inwardly to theinner wall of the cooling chamber and directly beneath the fan |04 toprevent the air from being turned immediately downwardly against thestratum of grain and permitting the flow of air to dig an opening in thestratum of grain and thereby destroy the cooling effectiveness of theunit. This same panel |06 extends slightly forwardly from the fan sothat the air flow will be applied indirectly rather than directly to thestratum of grain when the drying operation is initiated.

In operation, the grain passes downwardly through the hopper 21 and isdeposited upon the upper surface of the drying conveyor 3|. The fan 98forces the hot combustion gases discharged by the burner 88 and mixedwith some cool air drawn through the air inlet 24, rearwardly into theconnes of the hot chamber and upwardly through the porous conveyor 3|.The hotmoisture-laden air is discharged through the open portion I6 ofthe top of the unit. It should be noted that the grain travels theentire length of the unit and When it reaches the rear end of the unitit is discharged into the trough 58 and therel upon transported by theauger 59 into the chute 60 from which it is discharged upon thereceiving end 65 of the cooling conveyor. From there the grain passesforwardly again throughout the entire length of the unit until it isdischarged through the discharge outlet 6l. The cool air is drawn in bythe fan |04 and driven downwardly through the stratum of grai upon thecooling conveyor 62, this air passing outwardly through the open bottomof the cooling chamber. It should be noted that this entire unit isdesigned to be mounted several feet above the ground so that no difcultyis encountered in the free escape of the air which has passed throughthe cooling conveyor.

It can be readily seen that I have substantially increased the capacityof such a drying unit by permitting the grain to pass throughout theentire length of the unit and then concentrating the grain into arelatively narrow area and drawing it again throughout the entire lengthof the unit in an opposite direction and discharging it from the end atwhich the grain enters the unit. In this manner, I have substantiallyincreased the capacity of the unit since the entire length of the unitis used for drying purposes, and it is no longer necessary to utilize asubstantial portion of the length of the unit for the purpose of coolingthe grain. In addition, it can be readily seen that I have provided thisadded capacity without increasing the amount of equipment and materialsnecessary for construction of the unit so that the entire unit may bemanufactured at a cost comparable or even less than the cost of theunits previously known in the grain drying industry.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housinghaving a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudinalpartition dividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamber and acooling chamber, a blasttype burner mounted in the lower part of one endportion Vof said housing and directed longitudinally of said housing, anendless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length ofsaid housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermineddirection and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hotchamber having an air inlet below said conveyor and an air outlet abovesaid conveyor and said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamberbelow Said conveyor, means for delivering a stratum of grain from saidgrain intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing thesame thereupon, a second endless porous conveyor extending substantiallythroughout the length of said housing within said cooling chamber andtraveling in an opposite direction than said first mentioned conveyorand having a receiving end and having a discharging end which dischargesthe grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, said coolingchamber having an air inlet and an air outletone of which is disposedabove' and the other of which is disposed below said second mentionedconveyor, means for receiving the grain from the discharging end of saidrst :mentioned conveyor as itis discharged therefromand for depositingthe same upon the receiving end 1 of said second-mentioned coriveyonmeansl for driving the hot air from said burnervupwardlsl' through saidrst mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardlythrough said hot chambers air outlet, and means for driving cool airthrough said second mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grainthereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambers air outlet.

2. A continuous grain dryer having in oombination an elongated housinghaving a grain intake and a discharge outlet, a longitudinal partitiondividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamber and a coolingchamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lower part of one endportion of said housing and directed longitudinally thereof, an endlessporous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length of saidhousing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined directionand having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hot chamberhaving an air inlet below said conveyor and an air outlet above saidconveyor and said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamber belowsaid conveyor, means for delivering a stratum of grain from said grainintake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing the samethereupon, a second endless porous conveyor extending substantiallythroughout .the length of said housing within said cooling charnber andtraveling in an opposite direction than said iirst mentioned conveyorand having a receiving end and having a discharging end whichdischargesthe grain through said grain discharge outlet, said coolingchamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which is disposedabove and 4the other of which is disposed below said second mentionedconveyor, the receiving end of said second mentioned conveyor receivingthe grain discharged from the discharging end of said nrst mentionedconveyor, mechanism for driving hot air from said burner upwardlythrough said iirst mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereuponand outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism fordriving cool air through said second mentioned conveyor and the stratumof grain thereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambers airoutlet.

3. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housinghaving a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudinalpartition dividing the interior of said housing into a het chamber and acooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lower part of oneend portion of said housing and directed longitudinally thereof, anendless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length ofsaid housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermineddirection and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hotchamber having an air inlet below said conveyor and an air outlet abovesaid conveyor, said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamberbelow said conveyor, means for delivering a stratum of grain from saidgrain intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing thesame thereupon, a second endless porous conveyor extending substantiallythroughout the length of said housing within said cooling chamber andtraveling in an opposite direction than said first mentioned conveyorand having a re.- ceiving end and'having a discharging end whichdischarges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, saidcooling chamber having an airinlet above said second mentioned conveyorand an air outlet below said second menr tioned conveyonmeans forreceiving the grain from the` discharging end of said rst men- .tionedconveyor as it is kdischarged therefrom and for depositing the same uponthe receiving end of said second mentioned conveyor, mechanism fordriving the hot air from said burner upwardly through said rst mentionedconveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through saidhot chambers air outlet, and mechanism for drawing cool air into saidcooling chamber through its air inlet and for driving the samedownwardly through said second mentioned conveyor and the stratum ofgrainr thereupon and outwardly thro-ugh said cooling chambers airoutlet.

l.1.. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongatedhousing having a grain receiving end and a grain discharging outlet, alongitudinal partition dividing the interior of said housing into a hotchamber and a cooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lowerpart of one end portion of said housing and directed longitudinallythereof, an endless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially`the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in apredetermined direction and having a receiving end and a dischargingend, said hot chamber having an air inlet below said conveyor and an airoutlet above said conveyor and said burner discharging hot air into saidhot chamber below said conveyor, a hopper in theA receiving end of saidhousing adapted to deliver continuously a stratum of grain upon thereceiving end of said conveyor, a rotary agitator mounted directly aboveand immediately adjacent to said conveyor and extending transverselythereacross in position to engage the stratum of grain thereupon andagitate the same, a second .endless porous conveyor extendingsubstantially throughout the length of said housing within said coolingchamber and traveling in a direction opposite than said rst mentionedconveyor and having a receiving end and a discharging end whichdischarges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, saidcooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which isdisposed above and the `other of Which is disposed below said secondmentioned conveyor, means for receiving the grain from 4the dischargingend of said rst mentloned conveyor as it is discharged therefrom and fordepositing the same upon the receiving end of said second mentionedconveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air from said burner upwardlythroughsaid rsi; mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereuponand outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet and mechanism fordrawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its air inlet and fordriving such cool air through said second mentionedy conveyor and thestratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambersair outlet.

5. continuous grain dryer having in com bination an elongated housinghaving a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudi nalpartition dividing the interior of said housing intro a larger hotchamber and a cooling chamber said cooling chamber extendinglongitudinally ot Stil@ hOu-Sing 1011s 011157 one .side portion thereof21 blttype 101111161' mOlnted in the lower part of one end portion ofsaid housing and along the other side portion thereof laterally of saidC001.. ing chamber, an endless porous conveygr extend.

ing throughout substantially the length of said housing within said hotchamber and running in a predetermined direction and having a receivingend and a discharging end, said hot chamber Ehaving an air inlet belowsaid conveyor and an fair outlet above said conveyor and said burnerdischarging hot air into said chamber below said conveyor, means fordelivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to the receivingend of said conveyor and depositing the same thereupon,

a second endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout thelength of said housing within said -cooling chamber and traveling in anopposite direction than said first mentioned direction and having areceiving end and having a discharging end which discharges the grainoutwardly through said grain discharge outlet, said cooling chamberhaving an air inlet and an air said burner upwardly through said firstmentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardlythrough said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism for drawing cool airinto said cooling chamber through its air inlet and for driving the samethrough said second Kmentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain.thereupon and outwardly through said cooling 'chambers air outlet.

5. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housinghaving a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudi--nalpartition dividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamberand a cooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lower part ofone end portion of said housing and directed longitudinally of saidhousing, an endless conveyor extending horizontally throughoutsubstantially the length of said housing within said hot chamber andrunning in a predetermined direc- 'tion'and having a receiving and adischarging end, said hot chamber having an air inlet belows'aid'conveyor and an air outlet above said conveyor and said burnerdischarging hot air into said hot chamber below said conveyor, means fordelivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to the receivingend of said conveyor and depositing the same thereupon, a second endlessporous conveyor extending substantially throughout the length of saidhousing within said cooling chamber and traveling in an oppositedirection than said rst mentioned conveyor and having a receiving endand having a discharging end which discharges the grain outwardlythrough said grain discharge outlet, at least one of said conveyorsincluding a plurality of closely adjacent, parallel, transverselyextending porous panels, each of said panels being hingedly connected atits opposite ends to its adjacent panel to form theendless conveyor,said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of whichis disposed above and the other of which is disposed below said secondmentioned conveyor, means for receiving the grain from the dischargingend of said iirst mentioned conveyor as it is discharged therefrom andfor depositing the same upon the receiving end of said second mentionedconveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air fromV said burner upwardlythrough said rst mentioned conveyorand the stratum ofvgrain thereuponand outwardly through said hot cham- `extending throughout only thelower portion of said housing and along one side thereof, a blasttypeburner mounted in the lower part of one end portion of said housing anddirected longitudinally of said housing, an endless porous conveyorextending throughout substantially the length of said housing withinsaid hot chamber and running in a predetermined direction and having areceiving and a discharging end, said hot chamber having an air inletbelow said conveyor and an air outlet above said conveyor and Saidburner discharging hot air into said hot chamber below said conveyor,means for delivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to thereceiving end of said conveyor and depositing the same thereupon, asecond endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout thelength of said housing within said cooling chamber and traveling in anopposite direction than of grain from said grain said iirst mentionedconveyor and having a receiving end and having a discharging end whichdischarges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, saidcooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which isdisposed above and the other of which is disposed below said secondmentioned conveyor, means for receiving the grain from the dischargingend of said first mentioned' conveyor as it is discharged therefrom andfor depositing the same upon the receiving end of said second mentionedconveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air from said burner upwardlythrough said rst mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereuponand outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism fordrawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its air inlet and fordriving such cool air through said second mentioned conveyor and thestratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambersair outlet.

8. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housinghaving a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudinalpartition dividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamber and acooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lower part of oneend portion of said housing and directed longitudinally of said housing,an endless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially the lengthof said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermineddirection and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hotchamber having an air inlet below said conveyor' and an air outlet abovesaid conveyor and said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamberbelow said conveyor, said housing having walls defining the lowerportion of said hot chamber which meet at the bottom in a generallyV-shape, means for delivering a stratum intake to the receiving end ofsaid conveyor and depositing the same having a discharging end whichdischarges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, saidcooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which isdisposed above and the other of which is disposed below said secondmentioned conveyor, mechanism for receiving the grain from thedischarging end of said first mentioned conveyor as it is dischargedtherefrom and for moving the same laterally toward one side of saidhousing and for depositing the same upon the receiving end of saidsecond mentioned conveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air from saidburner upwardly through said iirst mentioned conveyor and the stratum ofgrain thereupon and outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, andmechanism for drawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its airinlet and for driving the same through said second mentioned conveyorand the stratum of grain thereupon outwardly through said coolingchambers air outlet.

l2. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housinghaving a grain intake and having a grain discharge outlet, alongitudinal partition dividing the interior of said housing into a hotchamber and a cooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in one endportion of said housing and directed longitudinally thereof, an endlessporous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length of saidhousing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined directionand having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hot chamberhaving an air inlet and an air outlet one of which is disposed above andthe other ber adjacent said air inlet, mechanism for delivering astratum of grain from said grain intake to the receiving end of saidconveyor and depositing the same thereon, a second endless porousconveyor extending substantially throughout the length of said housingwithin said cooling chamber and traveling in an opposite direction thansaid first mentioned conveyor and having a receiving end and having adischarging end which discharges the grain outwardly through said graindischarge outlet, said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an airoutlet one of which is disposed above and the other of which is disposedbelow said second mentioned conveyor, means for receiving the grain fromthe discharging end of said rst mentioned conveyor as it is dischargedtherefrom and for depositing the same upon the receiving end of saidsecond mentioned conveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air from saidburner through said rst mentioned conveyor throughout its length andoutwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism fordrawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its air inlet and fordischarging the same through said second mentioned conveyor and thestratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambersair outlet.

BEN L. TOMLINSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,293,830 McCaw Feb. 1l, 1919 2,406,822 Fox Sept. 3, 19462,490,176 Tomlinson et al. Dec. 6, 1949 2,558,338 Clements June 26, 1951

